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«As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep,

but I gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able to stay

awake....whats up with this???»

Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas syndrome. LOL

Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

" Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you, "

-Mareth

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

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«As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep,

but I gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able to stay

awake....whats up with this???»

Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas syndrome. LOL

Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

" Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you, "

-Mareth

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

«As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep,

but I gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able to stay

awake....whats up with this???»

Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas syndrome. LOL

Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

" Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you, "

-Mareth

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

>> As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up

>> for 2 hours...can't sleep, but I gurantee you

>> when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able

>> to stay awake....whats up with this???»

>

> Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas

> syndrome. LOL

>

> Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

LOL! Yup, I know exactly what you mean. I joke with

my husband that I must be turning vampire or something

since I only seem to get my best sleep during the day.

Hmmm.... maybe it's because of all that blood I keep

'donating' for lab tests. ;-)

-

__________________________________________________

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>> As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up

>> for 2 hours...can't sleep, but I gurantee you

>> when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able

>> to stay awake....whats up with this???»

>

> Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas

> syndrome. LOL

>

> Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

LOL! Yup, I know exactly what you mean. I joke with

my husband that I must be turning vampire or something

since I only seem to get my best sleep during the day.

Hmmm.... maybe it's because of all that blood I keep

'donating' for lab tests. ;-)

-

__________________________________________________

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Share on other sites

>> As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up

>> for 2 hours...can't sleep, but I gurantee you

>> when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able

>> to stay awake....whats up with this???»

>

> Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas

> syndrome. LOL

>

> Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

LOL! Yup, I know exactly what you mean. I joke with

my husband that I must be turning vampire or something

since I only seem to get my best sleep during the day.

Hmmm.... maybe it's because of all that blood I keep

'donating' for lab tests. ;-)

-

__________________________________________________

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Share on other sites

<>

My husband tells the kids that I have turned into a vampire. They were freaked

out when I woke up this afternoon. I was up all night then at 7:30a I fell

asleep and woke up at 1:30p. They kept telling me to show them my fangs. Have a

great day everyone!

~

---------------------------------

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Oh yeah Mareth, I get it lol. I've been called a vampire because of my sleeping

habits for several years now.

I'm a Dark Shadows fan. :-)

{{{Hugs}}}

Jacqui

RE: Interesting article

«As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep,

but I gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able to stay

awake....whats up with this???»

Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas syndrome. LOL

Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

" Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you, "

-Mareth

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

SEND POST TO: fibromyalgia-cfs

HOME PAGE:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Oaks/7127/fibromyalgia-cfs.html

LIST OWNER: " Missy " Parrot004@...>

UNSUBSCRIBE:fibromyalgia-cfs-unsubscribe

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Share on other sites

Oh yeah Mareth, I get it lol. I've been called a vampire because of my sleeping

habits for several years now.

I'm a Dark Shadows fan. :-)

{{{Hugs}}}

Jacqui

RE: Interesting article

«As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep,

but I gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able to stay

awake....whats up with this???»

Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas syndrome. LOL

Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

" Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you, "

-Mareth

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

SEND POST TO: fibromyalgia-cfs

HOME PAGE:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Oaks/7127/fibromyalgia-cfs.html

LIST OWNER: " Missy " Parrot004@...>

UNSUBSCRIBE:fibromyalgia-cfs-unsubscribe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh yeah Mareth, I get it lol. I've been called a vampire because of my sleeping

habits for several years now.

I'm a Dark Shadows fan. :-)

{{{Hugs}}}

Jacqui

RE: Interesting article

«As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep,

but I gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be able to stay

awake....whats up with this???»

Well, in my house, we call it the Barnabas syndrome. LOL

Wondering if anyone gets the reference...

" Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you, "

-Mareth

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

SEND POST TO: fibromyalgia-cfs

HOME PAGE:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Oaks/7127/fibromyalgia-cfs.html

LIST OWNER: " Missy " Parrot004@...>

UNSUBSCRIBE:fibromyalgia-cfs-unsubscribe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

-Allicia, thanks for sharing the article.

-- In @y..., Allicia21@a... wrote:

> I kinda found this article interesting....If we could only find a

doctor who

> would play the " advocate " ....I'm almost willing to drive across the

country

> to find one single doctor who knows what they are doing with this

disease and

> how to keep it under control. As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I

have been up

> for 2 hours...can't sleep, but I gurantee you when sunlight hits my

windows I

> won't be able to stay awake....whats up with this???

>

> Principles of Treating Fibromyalgia

>

> , MD

>

> There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia

patients may be

> symptomatic for many years with a reduced quality of life and

varying levels

> of dysfunction. However engagement in a productive lifestyle and

minimization

> of dysfunction can usually be achieved by paying attention to 4

major areas :

> pain, exercise, sleep and psyche.

>

> Pain. The use of NSAIDs in fibromyalgia patients is usually

disappointing; it

> is unusual for fibromyalgia patients to experience more than a 20%

relief of

> their pain, but many consider this to be worthwhile. Narcotics (

> propoxyphene, codeine, morphine,oxycodone, methadone) may provide a

> worthwhile relief of pain in a small subgroup of severely

afflicted

> patients, but fibromyalgia patients seem especially sensitive to

opioid side

> effects (nausea, constipation, itching and mental blurring) and

often decide

> against the long term use of these drugs. The oft quoted problem

with http://www.myalgia.com/addiction%20def.htm " >

> addiction seldom occurs when narcotics are used to treat

chronic pain..

> Tramadol (Ultram), a recently introduced analgesic seems to provide

partial,

> but significant, pain attenuation in many fibromyalgia patients †"

it is

> currently undergoing controlled trials. The severity of pain and

the location

> of " hot spots " typically varies from month to month, and the

judicious use of

> myofascial trigger point injections and spray and stretch is

worthwhile in

> selected patients, but should be viewed as an aid to active

participation in

> a regular stretching and aerobic exercise program.

>

> Evaluation by an occupational and physical therapist often provides

> worthwhile advice on improved ergonomics, biomechanical imbalance

and the

> formulation of a regular stretching program. Hands-on physical

therapy

> treatment with heat modalities is reserved for major flares of

pain, as there

> is no evidence that long term therapy alters the course of the

disorder. The

> same comments can be made for acupuncture, TENS units and various

massage

> techniques.

>

> Exercise. A gentle program of stretching and aerobic exercise is

essential to

> counteract the tendency for deconditioning that leads to

progressive

> dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients. Prior to stretching, muscles

should be

> warmed either actively by gentle exercise or passively by a heating

pad, warm

> bath or hot tub. Stretching will aid in the release of the often

tightened

> muscle bands and when properly performed will provide pain relief.

The amount

> of the stretch is important. Stretching to point of resistance and

then

> holding the stretch will allow the Golgi tendon apparatus to signal

the

> muscle fibers to relax. Stretching to the point of increased pain

will

> precipitate a contraction of additional fibers and have a

deleterious effect.

> The stretch should be gentle and sustained for 60 seconds. Often

patients

> must work up to this amount of time and start with 10-15 seconds on

and then

> 10-15 seconds off. There is good evidence that fibromyalgia

patients benefit

> from increased aerobic conditioning, but many are reluctant to

exercise on

> account of increased pain and fatigue. However, most patients, can

be

> motivated to increase their level of fitness if they are provided

realistic

> guidelines for exercise and have regular follow-up. Exercise

prescription

> should emphasize non-impact loading exercise such as use of

walking,

> stationary exercycles and water-therapy. The eventual aim is to

exercise 3 to

> 4 times a week at 60 to 70% of the maximal heart rate for 20 to 30

minutes.

> Most fibromyalgia patients cannot start out at this level but need

to

> establish a regular pattern of exercise. I have found that an

acceptable

> initiation for most patients is to start with two or three daily

exercise

> sessions of only 3-5 minutes each. The duration should then be

increased

> until they are doing three 10 minute sessions, then two 15 minute

sessions

> and finally one 20 to 30 minute session performed 3 times per week.

>

> Sleep. All fibromyalgia patients complain of fragmented non-

refreshing sleep.

> A treatable cause for the sleep disturbance should always be

sought. For

> instance, a small number of patients have sleep apnea and benefit

from

> continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Other patients have

nocturnal

> myoclonus associated with a restless leg syndrome and may often be

helped by

> the prescription of clonazepam (Klonopin), 0.1 mg at bedtime or

> carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet), 10/100 at bedtime. In the majority of

patients,

> the sleep disturbance seems to be rooted in psychological distress

or due to

> pain itself. For instance, a regional myofascial pain syndrome

consequent to

> a whiplash injury may cause a persistent sleep disruption, which

eventually

> leads to the appearance of widespread musculoskeletal pain

consistent with

> the fibromyalgia syndrome; this transition from regional pain to

widespread

> pain typically occurs over a period of 6 to 18 months. In some

patients,

> trochanteric bursitis or subacromial bursitis/tendinitis causes a

sleep

> disruption every time the patient turns over onto that side, and

appropriate

> treatment of the bursitis (see previous section) may lead to a more

> restorative sleep pattern. In many fibromyalgia patients, the sleep

> disturbance may be helped by the judicious prescription of a low-

dose

> tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). The doses required to promote

restorative

> sleep in fibromyalgia are not in the range required to treat

depression.

> Currently there seems to be no logical way of knowing which TCA to

prescribe.

> The ideal medication would produce restorative sleep with a feeling

of being

> refreshed on awakening with no side effects. In reality, some

patients are

> excessively sensitive to TCAs and have a severe sense of " morning

hangover " ;

> this may be helped by switching from one of the more sedative

agents to a

> more stimulant TCA. Other patients find TCAs unacceptable owing to

> anticholinergic side effects, such as tachycardia, dry mouth, and

> constipation. Most TCAs cause some weight gain, but in certain

patients this

> may amount to 20% of their initial body weight and is thus

unacceptable. The

> author often initiates TCA therapy with a trial of four medications

taken for

> 6 days each with a 1-day washout between. Patients can be advised

to start

> medication on a Friday evening to minimize the inconvenience of a

possible

> hangover the next morning. If the patient has not taken a TCA

before, the

> following drugs and dosages can typically be used: amitriptyline

(Elavil,

> Endep), 10 mg at bedtime; doxepin (Sinequan, Adapin), 10 mg at

bedtime;

> nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventil), 10 mg at bedtime; trazadone

(Desyrel), 25

> mg at bedtime and cycobenzaprine (Flexeril) 10mg at bedtime †"

cycobenzaprine

> has a TCA structure and is also a muscle relaxant. Unless the

patient has a

> concomitant major depressive illness, the author does not routinely

advocate

> selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine

(Prozac),

> because they may exacerbate insomnia and causes agitation. When

SSRIs are

> used in patients with concomitant major depression, the author

usually

> prescribes a low-dose TCA, such as trazadone 50 mg at bedtime. Some

> fibromyalgia patients are very intolerant of TCAs due to a

persistent daytime

> hangover effect. In such cases the author uses zolpidem (Ambien)

10mg at

> bedtime, with instructions not to use it more than 3 times a week.

>

> Psyche. Patients with chronic pain often develop secondary

psychological

> disturbances, such as depression, anger, fear, withdrawal and

anxiety.

> Sometimes these secondary reactions become the " major problem " ,

however it is

> a common mistake to attribute all of the patients symptomatolgy to

an

> aberrant psyche. The prompt diagnosis and treatment of these

secondary

> features is essential to effective overall management of

fibromyalgia

> patients. Some patients develop a reduced functional ability and

have

> difficulty being competitively employed. In such cases the treating

physician

> needs to act as an advocate in sanctioning a reduced or modified

load at work

> and at home. The overall philosophy of treating fibromyalgia

patients,

> however, is to provide them with realistic expectations of what can

be done

> to help and de-emphasize the role of medications. Frequent visits

to physical

> therapists, masseurs, and chiropractors or a dependence on repeated

> myofascial trigger point injections should be discouraged. Unless

the patient

> has an obvious psychiatric illness, referral to psychiatrists is

usually

> non-productive. Psychological counseling, particularly the use of

techniques

> such as cognitive restructuring and biofeedback, may benefit some

patients

> who are having difficulties coping with the realities of living

with their

> pain and associated problems.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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Share on other sites

-Allicia, thanks for sharing the article.

-- In @y..., Allicia21@a... wrote:

> I kinda found this article interesting....If we could only find a

doctor who

> would play the " advocate " ....I'm almost willing to drive across the

country

> to find one single doctor who knows what they are doing with this

disease and

> how to keep it under control. As you can see its 4:00 a.m. and I

have been up

> for 2 hours...can't sleep, but I gurantee you when sunlight hits my

windows I

> won't be able to stay awake....whats up with this???

>

> Principles of Treating Fibromyalgia

>

> , MD

>

> There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia

patients may be

> symptomatic for many years with a reduced quality of life and

varying levels

> of dysfunction. However engagement in a productive lifestyle and

minimization

> of dysfunction can usually be achieved by paying attention to 4

major areas :

> pain, exercise, sleep and psyche.

>

> Pain. The use of NSAIDs in fibromyalgia patients is usually

disappointing; it

> is unusual for fibromyalgia patients to experience more than a 20%

relief of

> their pain, but many consider this to be worthwhile. Narcotics (

> propoxyphene, codeine, morphine,oxycodone, methadone) may provide a

> worthwhile relief of pain in a small subgroup of severely

afflicted

> patients, but fibromyalgia patients seem especially sensitive to

opioid side

> effects (nausea, constipation, itching and mental blurring) and

often decide

> against the long term use of these drugs. The oft quoted problem

with http://www.myalgia.com/addiction%20def.htm " >

> addiction seldom occurs when narcotics are used to treat

chronic pain..

> Tramadol (Ultram), a recently introduced analgesic seems to provide

partial,

> but significant, pain attenuation in many fibromyalgia patients †"

it is

> currently undergoing controlled trials. The severity of pain and

the location

> of " hot spots " typically varies from month to month, and the

judicious use of

> myofascial trigger point injections and spray and stretch is

worthwhile in

> selected patients, but should be viewed as an aid to active

participation in

> a regular stretching and aerobic exercise program.

>

> Evaluation by an occupational and physical therapist often provides

> worthwhile advice on improved ergonomics, biomechanical imbalance

and the

> formulation of a regular stretching program. Hands-on physical

therapy

> treatment with heat modalities is reserved for major flares of

pain, as there

> is no evidence that long term therapy alters the course of the

disorder. The

> same comments can be made for acupuncture, TENS units and various

massage

> techniques.

>

> Exercise. A gentle program of stretching and aerobic exercise is

essential to

> counteract the tendency for deconditioning that leads to

progressive

> dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients. Prior to stretching, muscles

should be

> warmed either actively by gentle exercise or passively by a heating

pad, warm

> bath or hot tub. Stretching will aid in the release of the often

tightened

> muscle bands and when properly performed will provide pain relief.

The amount

> of the stretch is important. Stretching to point of resistance and

then

> holding the stretch will allow the Golgi tendon apparatus to signal

the

> muscle fibers to relax. Stretching to the point of increased pain

will

> precipitate a contraction of additional fibers and have a

deleterious effect.

> The stretch should be gentle and sustained for 60 seconds. Often

patients

> must work up to this amount of time and start with 10-15 seconds on

and then

> 10-15 seconds off. There is good evidence that fibromyalgia

patients benefit

> from increased aerobic conditioning, but many are reluctant to

exercise on

> account of increased pain and fatigue. However, most patients, can

be

> motivated to increase their level of fitness if they are provided

realistic

> guidelines for exercise and have regular follow-up. Exercise

prescription

> should emphasize non-impact loading exercise such as use of

walking,

> stationary exercycles and water-therapy. The eventual aim is to

exercise 3 to

> 4 times a week at 60 to 70% of the maximal heart rate for 20 to 30

minutes.

> Most fibromyalgia patients cannot start out at this level but need

to

> establish a regular pattern of exercise. I have found that an

acceptable

> initiation for most patients is to start with two or three daily

exercise

> sessions of only 3-5 minutes each. The duration should then be

increased

> until they are doing three 10 minute sessions, then two 15 minute

sessions

> and finally one 20 to 30 minute session performed 3 times per week.

>

> Sleep. All fibromyalgia patients complain of fragmented non-

refreshing sleep.

> A treatable cause for the sleep disturbance should always be

sought. For

> instance, a small number of patients have sleep apnea and benefit

from

> continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Other patients have

nocturnal

> myoclonus associated with a restless leg syndrome and may often be

helped by

> the prescription of clonazepam (Klonopin), 0.1 mg at bedtime or

> carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet), 10/100 at bedtime. In the majority of

patients,

> the sleep disturbance seems to be rooted in psychological distress

or due to

> pain itself. For instance, a regional myofascial pain syndrome

consequent to

> a whiplash injury may cause a persistent sleep disruption, which

eventually

> leads to the appearance of widespread musculoskeletal pain

consistent with

> the fibromyalgia syndrome; this transition from regional pain to

widespread

> pain typically occurs over a period of 6 to 18 months. In some

patients,

> trochanteric bursitis or subacromial bursitis/tendinitis causes a

sleep

> disruption every time the patient turns over onto that side, and

appropriate

> treatment of the bursitis (see previous section) may lead to a more

> restorative sleep pattern. In many fibromyalgia patients, the sleep

> disturbance may be helped by the judicious prescription of a low-

dose

> tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). The doses required to promote

restorative

> sleep in fibromyalgia are not in the range required to treat

depression.

> Currently there seems to be no logical way of knowing which TCA to

prescribe.

> The ideal medication would produce restorative sleep with a feeling

of being

> refreshed on awakening with no side effects. In reality, some

patients are

> excessively sensitive to TCAs and have a severe sense of " morning

hangover " ;

> this may be helped by switching from one of the more sedative

agents to a

> more stimulant TCA. Other patients find TCAs unacceptable owing to

> anticholinergic side effects, such as tachycardia, dry mouth, and

> constipation. Most TCAs cause some weight gain, but in certain

patients this

> may amount to 20% of their initial body weight and is thus

unacceptable. The

> author often initiates TCA therapy with a trial of four medications

taken for

> 6 days each with a 1-day washout between. Patients can be advised

to start

> medication on a Friday evening to minimize the inconvenience of a

possible

> hangover the next morning. If the patient has not taken a TCA

before, the

> following drugs and dosages can typically be used: amitriptyline

(Elavil,

> Endep), 10 mg at bedtime; doxepin (Sinequan, Adapin), 10 mg at

bedtime;

> nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventil), 10 mg at bedtime; trazadone

(Desyrel), 25

> mg at bedtime and cycobenzaprine (Flexeril) 10mg at bedtime †"

cycobenzaprine

> has a TCA structure and is also a muscle relaxant. Unless the

patient has a

> concomitant major depressive illness, the author does not routinely

advocate

> selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine

(Prozac),

> because they may exacerbate insomnia and causes agitation. When

SSRIs are

> used in patients with concomitant major depression, the author

usually

> prescribes a low-dose TCA, such as trazadone 50 mg at bedtime. Some

> fibromyalgia patients are very intolerant of TCAs due to a

persistent daytime

> hangover effect. In such cases the author uses zolpidem (Ambien)

10mg at

> bedtime, with instructions not to use it more than 3 times a week.

>

> Psyche. Patients with chronic pain often develop secondary

psychological

> disturbances, such as depression, anger, fear, withdrawal and

anxiety.

> Sometimes these secondary reactions become the " major problem " ,

however it is

> a common mistake to attribute all of the patients symptomatolgy to

an

> aberrant psyche. The prompt diagnosis and treatment of these

secondary

> features is essential to effective overall management of

fibromyalgia

> patients. Some patients develop a reduced functional ability and

have

> difficulty being competitively employed. In such cases the treating

physician

> needs to act as an advocate in sanctioning a reduced or modified

load at work

> and at home. The overall philosophy of treating fibromyalgia

patients,

> however, is to provide them with realistic expectations of what can

be done

> to help and de-emphasize the role of medications. Frequent visits

to physical

> therapists, masseurs, and chiropractors or a dependence on repeated

> myofascial trigger point injections should be discouraged. Unless

the patient

> has an obvious psychiatric illness, referral to psychiatrists is

usually

> non-productive. Psychological counseling, particularly the use of

techniques

> such as cognitive restructuring and biofeedback, may benefit some

patients

> who are having difficulties coping with the realities of living

with their

> pain and associated problems.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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Share on other sites

Allicia....thanks for finding and sharing this

article. It has to be the best one I've read

explaining different therapy's / meds.

Allicia21@... wrote:I kinda found this article

interesting....If we could only find a doctor who

would play the " advocate " ....I'm almost willing to

drive across the country to find one single doctor who

knows what they are doing with this disease and how to

keep it under control. As you can see its 4:00 a.m.

and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep, but I

gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be

able to stay awake....whats up with this???Principles

of Treating Fibromyalgia , MDThere is

currently no cure for fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia

patients may be symptomatic for many years with a

reduced quality of life and varying levels of

dysfunction. However engagement in a productive

lifestyle and minimization of dysfunction can usually

be achieved by paying attention to 4 major areas :

pain, exercise, sleep and psyche. Pain. The use of

NSAIDs in fibromyalgia patients is usually

disappointing; it is unusual for fibromyalgia patients

to experience more than a 20% relief of their pain,

but many consider this to be worthwhile. Narcotics (

propoxyphene, codeine, morphine,oxycodone, methadone)

may provide a worthwhile relief of pain in a small

subgroup of severely afflicted patients, but

fibromyalgia patients seem especially sensitive to

opioid side effects (nausea, constipation, itching and

mental blurring) and often decide against the long

term use of these drugs. The oft quoted problem with

addiction seldom occurs when narcotics are used to

treat chronic pain.. Tramadol (Ultram), a recently

introduced analgesic seems to provide partial, but

significant, pain attenuation in many fibromyalgia

patients – it is currently undergoing controlled

trials. The severity of pain and the location of " hot

spots " typically varies from month to month, and the

judicious use of myofascial trigger point injections

and spray and stretch is worthwhile in selected

patients, but should be viewed as an aid to active

participation in a regular stretching and aerobic

exercise program. Evaluation by an occupational and

physical therapist often provides worthwhile advice on

improved ergonomics, biomechanical imbalance and the

formulation of a regular stretching program. Hands-on

physical therapy treatment with heat modalities is

reserved for major flares of pain, as there is no

evidence that long term therapy alters the course of

the disorder. The same comments can be made for

acupuncture, TENS units and various massage

techniques. Exercise. A gentle program of stretching

and aerobic exercise is essential to counteract the

tendency for deconditioning that leads to progressive

dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients. Prior to

stretching, muscles should be warmed either actively

by gentle exercise or passively by a heating pad, warm

bath or hot tub. Stretching will aid in the release of

the often tightened muscle bands and when properly

performed will provide pain relief. The amount of the

stretch is important. Stretching to point of

resistance and then holding the stretch will allow the

Golgi tendon apparatus to signal the muscle fibers to

relax. Stretching to the point of increased pain will

precipitate a contraction of additional fibers and

have a deleterious effect. The stretch should be

gentle and sustained for 60 seconds. Often patients

must work up to this amount of time and start with

10-15 seconds on and then 10-15 seconds off. There is

good evidence that fibromyalgia patients benefit from

increased aerobic conditioning, but many are reluctant

to exercise on account of increased pain and fatigue.

However, most patients, can be motivated to increase

their level of fitness if they are provided realistic

guidelines for exercise and have regular follow-up.

Exercise prescription should emphasize non-impact

loading exercise such as use of walking, stationary

exercycles and water-therapy. The eventual aim is to

exercise 3 to 4 times a week at 60 to 70% of the

maximal heart rate for 20 to 30 minutes. Most

fibromyalgia patients cannot start out at this level

but need to establish a regular pattern of exercise. I

have found that an acceptable initiation for most

patients is to start with two or three daily exercise

sessions of only 3-5 minutes each. The duration should

then be increased until they are doing three 10 minute

sessions, then two 15 minute sessions and finally one

20 to 30 minute session performed 3 times per week.

Sleep. All fibromyalgia patients complain of

fragmented non-refreshing sleep. A treatable cause for

the sleep disturbance should always be sought. For

instance, a small number of patients have sleep apnea

and benefit from continuous positive airway pressure

therapy. Other patients have nocturnal myoclonus

associated with a restless leg syndrome and may often

be helped by the prescription of clonazepam

(Klonopin), 0.1 mg at bedtime or carbidopa-levodopa

(Sinemet), 10/100 at bedtime. In the majority of

patients, the sleep disturbance seems to be rooted in

psychological distress or due to pain itself. For

instance, a regional myofascial pain syndrome

consequent to a whiplash injury may cause a persistent

sleep disruption, which eventually leads to the

appearance of widespread musculoskeletal pain

consistent with the fibromyalgia syndrome; this

transition from regional pain to widespread pain

typically occurs over a period of 6 to 18 months. In

some patients, trochanteric bursitis or subacromial

bursitis/tendinitis causes a sleep disruption every

time the patient turns over onto that side, and

appropriate treatment of the bursitis (see previous

section) may lead to a more restorative sleep pattern.

In many fibromyalgia patients, the sleep disturbance

may be helped by the judicious prescription of a

low-dose tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). The doses

required to promote restorative sleep in fibromyalgia

are not in the range required to treat depression.

Currently there seems to be no logical way of knowing

which TCA to prescribe. The ideal medication would

produce restorative sleep with a feeling of being

refreshed on awakening with no side effects. In

reality, some patients are excessively sensitive to

TCAs and have a severe sense of " morning hangover " ;

this may be helped by switching from one of the more

sedative agents to a more stimulant TCA. Other

patients find TCAs unacceptable owing to

anticholinergic side effects, such as tachycardia, dry

mouth, and constipation. Most TCAs cause some weight

gain, but in certain patients this may amount to 20%

of their initial body weight and is thus unacceptable.

The author often initiates TCA therapy with a trial of

four medications taken for 6 days each with a 1-day

washout between. Patients can be advised to start

medication on a Friday evening to minimize the

inconvenience of a possible hangover the next morning.

If the patient has not taken a TCA before, the

following drugs and dosages can typically be used:

amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), 10 mg at bedtime;

doxepin (Sinequan, Adapin), 10 mg at bedtime;

nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventil), 10 mg at bedtime;

trazadone (Desyrel), 25 mg at bedtime and

cycobenzaprine (Flexeril) 10mg at bedtime –

cycobenzaprine has a TCA structure and is also a

muscle relaxant. Unless the patient has a concomitant

major depressive illness, the author does not

routinely advocate selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac),

because they may exacerbate insomnia and causes

agitation. When SSRIs are used in patients with

concomitant major depression, the author usually

prescribes a low-dose TCA, such as trazadone 50 mg at

bedtime. Some fibromyalgia patients are very

intolerant of TCAs due to a persistent daytime

hangover effect. In such cases the author uses

zolpidem (Ambien) 10mg at bedtime, with instructions

not to use it more than 3 times a week. Psyche.

Patients with chronic pain often develop secondary

psychological disturbances, such as depression, anger,

fear, withdrawal and anxiety. Sometimes these

secondary reactions become the " major problem " ,

however it is a common mistake to attribute all of the

patients symptomatolgy to an aberrant psyche. The

prompt diagnosis and treatment of these secondary

features is essential to effective overall management

of fibromyalgia patients. Some patients develop a

reduced functional ability and have difficulty being

competitively employed. In such cases the treating

physician needs to act as an advocate in sanctioning a

reduced or modified load at work and at home. The

overall philosophy of treating fibromyalgia patients,

however, is to provide them with realistic

expectations of what can be done to help and

de-emphasize the role of medications. Frequent visits

to physical therapists, masseurs, and chiropractors or

a dependence on repeated myofascial trigger point

injections should be discouraged. Unless the patient

has an obvious psychiatric illness, referral to

psychiatrists is usually non-productive. Psychological

counseling, particularly the use of techniques such as

cognitive restructuring and biofeedback, may benefit

some patients who are having difficulties coping with

the realities of living with their pain and associated

problems. [Non-text portions of this message have

been removed]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Allicia....thanks for finding and sharing this

article. It has to be the best one I've read

explaining different therapy's / meds.

Allicia21@... wrote:I kinda found this article

interesting....If we could only find a doctor who

would play the " advocate " ....I'm almost willing to

drive across the country to find one single doctor who

knows what they are doing with this disease and how to

keep it under control. As you can see its 4:00 a.m.

and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep, but I

gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be

able to stay awake....whats up with this???Principles

of Treating Fibromyalgia , MDThere is

currently no cure for fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia

patients may be symptomatic for many years with a

reduced quality of life and varying levels of

dysfunction. However engagement in a productive

lifestyle and minimization of dysfunction can usually

be achieved by paying attention to 4 major areas :

pain, exercise, sleep and psyche. Pain. The use of

NSAIDs in fibromyalgia patients is usually

disappointing; it is unusual for fibromyalgia patients

to experience more than a 20% relief of their pain,

but many consider this to be worthwhile. Narcotics (

propoxyphene, codeine, morphine,oxycodone, methadone)

may provide a worthwhile relief of pain in a small

subgroup of severely afflicted patients, but

fibromyalgia patients seem especially sensitive to

opioid side effects (nausea, constipation, itching and

mental blurring) and often decide against the long

term use of these drugs. The oft quoted problem with

addiction seldom occurs when narcotics are used to

treat chronic pain.. Tramadol (Ultram), a recently

introduced analgesic seems to provide partial, but

significant, pain attenuation in many fibromyalgia

patients – it is currently undergoing controlled

trials. The severity of pain and the location of " hot

spots " typically varies from month to month, and the

judicious use of myofascial trigger point injections

and spray and stretch is worthwhile in selected

patients, but should be viewed as an aid to active

participation in a regular stretching and aerobic

exercise program. Evaluation by an occupational and

physical therapist often provides worthwhile advice on

improved ergonomics, biomechanical imbalance and the

formulation of a regular stretching program. Hands-on

physical therapy treatment with heat modalities is

reserved for major flares of pain, as there is no

evidence that long term therapy alters the course of

the disorder. The same comments can be made for

acupuncture, TENS units and various massage

techniques. Exercise. A gentle program of stretching

and aerobic exercise is essential to counteract the

tendency for deconditioning that leads to progressive

dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients. Prior to

stretching, muscles should be warmed either actively

by gentle exercise or passively by a heating pad, warm

bath or hot tub. Stretching will aid in the release of

the often tightened muscle bands and when properly

performed will provide pain relief. The amount of the

stretch is important. Stretching to point of

resistance and then holding the stretch will allow the

Golgi tendon apparatus to signal the muscle fibers to

relax. Stretching to the point of increased pain will

precipitate a contraction of additional fibers and

have a deleterious effect. The stretch should be

gentle and sustained for 60 seconds. Often patients

must work up to this amount of time and start with

10-15 seconds on and then 10-15 seconds off. There is

good evidence that fibromyalgia patients benefit from

increased aerobic conditioning, but many are reluctant

to exercise on account of increased pain and fatigue.

However, most patients, can be motivated to increase

their level of fitness if they are provided realistic

guidelines for exercise and have regular follow-up.

Exercise prescription should emphasize non-impact

loading exercise such as use of walking, stationary

exercycles and water-therapy. The eventual aim is to

exercise 3 to 4 times a week at 60 to 70% of the

maximal heart rate for 20 to 30 minutes. Most

fibromyalgia patients cannot start out at this level

but need to establish a regular pattern of exercise. I

have found that an acceptable initiation for most

patients is to start with two or three daily exercise

sessions of only 3-5 minutes each. The duration should

then be increased until they are doing three 10 minute

sessions, then two 15 minute sessions and finally one

20 to 30 minute session performed 3 times per week.

Sleep. All fibromyalgia patients complain of

fragmented non-refreshing sleep. A treatable cause for

the sleep disturbance should always be sought. For

instance, a small number of patients have sleep apnea

and benefit from continuous positive airway pressure

therapy. Other patients have nocturnal myoclonus

associated with a restless leg syndrome and may often

be helped by the prescription of clonazepam

(Klonopin), 0.1 mg at bedtime or carbidopa-levodopa

(Sinemet), 10/100 at bedtime. In the majority of

patients, the sleep disturbance seems to be rooted in

psychological distress or due to pain itself. For

instance, a regional myofascial pain syndrome

consequent to a whiplash injury may cause a persistent

sleep disruption, which eventually leads to the

appearance of widespread musculoskeletal pain

consistent with the fibromyalgia syndrome; this

transition from regional pain to widespread pain

typically occurs over a period of 6 to 18 months. In

some patients, trochanteric bursitis or subacromial

bursitis/tendinitis causes a sleep disruption every

time the patient turns over onto that side, and

appropriate treatment of the bursitis (see previous

section) may lead to a more restorative sleep pattern.

In many fibromyalgia patients, the sleep disturbance

may be helped by the judicious prescription of a

low-dose tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). The doses

required to promote restorative sleep in fibromyalgia

are not in the range required to treat depression.

Currently there seems to be no logical way of knowing

which TCA to prescribe. The ideal medication would

produce restorative sleep with a feeling of being

refreshed on awakening with no side effects. In

reality, some patients are excessively sensitive to

TCAs and have a severe sense of " morning hangover " ;

this may be helped by switching from one of the more

sedative agents to a more stimulant TCA. Other

patients find TCAs unacceptable owing to

anticholinergic side effects, such as tachycardia, dry

mouth, and constipation. Most TCAs cause some weight

gain, but in certain patients this may amount to 20%

of their initial body weight and is thus unacceptable.

The author often initiates TCA therapy with a trial of

four medications taken for 6 days each with a 1-day

washout between. Patients can be advised to start

medication on a Friday evening to minimize the

inconvenience of a possible hangover the next morning.

If the patient has not taken a TCA before, the

following drugs and dosages can typically be used:

amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), 10 mg at bedtime;

doxepin (Sinequan, Adapin), 10 mg at bedtime;

nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventil), 10 mg at bedtime;

trazadone (Desyrel), 25 mg at bedtime and

cycobenzaprine (Flexeril) 10mg at bedtime –

cycobenzaprine has a TCA structure and is also a

muscle relaxant. Unless the patient has a concomitant

major depressive illness, the author does not

routinely advocate selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac),

because they may exacerbate insomnia and causes

agitation. When SSRIs are used in patients with

concomitant major depression, the author usually

prescribes a low-dose TCA, such as trazadone 50 mg at

bedtime. Some fibromyalgia patients are very

intolerant of TCAs due to a persistent daytime

hangover effect. In such cases the author uses

zolpidem (Ambien) 10mg at bedtime, with instructions

not to use it more than 3 times a week. Psyche.

Patients with chronic pain often develop secondary

psychological disturbances, such as depression, anger,

fear, withdrawal and anxiety. Sometimes these

secondary reactions become the " major problem " ,

however it is a common mistake to attribute all of the

patients symptomatolgy to an aberrant psyche. The

prompt diagnosis and treatment of these secondary

features is essential to effective overall management

of fibromyalgia patients. Some patients develop a

reduced functional ability and have difficulty being

competitively employed. In such cases the treating

physician needs to act as an advocate in sanctioning a

reduced or modified load at work and at home. The

overall philosophy of treating fibromyalgia patients,

however, is to provide them with realistic

expectations of what can be done to help and

de-emphasize the role of medications. Frequent visits

to physical therapists, masseurs, and chiropractors or

a dependence on repeated myofascial trigger point

injections should be discouraged. Unless the patient

has an obvious psychiatric illness, referral to

psychiatrists is usually non-productive. Psychological

counseling, particularly the use of techniques such as

cognitive restructuring and biofeedback, may benefit

some patients who are having difficulties coping with

the realities of living with their pain and associated

problems. [Non-text portions of this message have

been removed]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Allicia....thanks for finding and sharing this

article. It has to be the best one I've read

explaining different therapy's / meds.

Allicia21@... wrote:I kinda found this article

interesting....If we could only find a doctor who

would play the " advocate " ....I'm almost willing to

drive across the country to find one single doctor who

knows what they are doing with this disease and how to

keep it under control. As you can see its 4:00 a.m.

and I have been up for 2 hours...can't sleep, but I

gurantee you when sunlight hits my windows I won't be

able to stay awake....whats up with this???Principles

of Treating Fibromyalgia , MDThere is

currently no cure for fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia

patients may be symptomatic for many years with a

reduced quality of life and varying levels of

dysfunction. However engagement in a productive

lifestyle and minimization of dysfunction can usually

be achieved by paying attention to 4 major areas :

pain, exercise, sleep and psyche. Pain. The use of

NSAIDs in fibromyalgia patients is usually

disappointing; it is unusual for fibromyalgia patients

to experience more than a 20% relief of their pain,

but many consider this to be worthwhile. Narcotics (

propoxyphene, codeine, morphine,oxycodone, methadone)

may provide a worthwhile relief of pain in a small

subgroup of severely afflicted patients, but

fibromyalgia patients seem especially sensitive to

opioid side effects (nausea, constipation, itching and

mental blurring) and often decide against the long

term use of these drugs. The oft quoted problem with

addiction seldom occurs when narcotics are used to

treat chronic pain.. Tramadol (Ultram), a recently

introduced analgesic seems to provide partial, but

significant, pain attenuation in many fibromyalgia

patients – it is currently undergoing controlled

trials. The severity of pain and the location of " hot

spots " typically varies from month to month, and the

judicious use of myofascial trigger point injections

and spray and stretch is worthwhile in selected

patients, but should be viewed as an aid to active

participation in a regular stretching and aerobic

exercise program. Evaluation by an occupational and

physical therapist often provides worthwhile advice on

improved ergonomics, biomechanical imbalance and the

formulation of a regular stretching program. Hands-on

physical therapy treatment with heat modalities is

reserved for major flares of pain, as there is no

evidence that long term therapy alters the course of

the disorder. The same comments can be made for

acupuncture, TENS units and various massage

techniques. Exercise. A gentle program of stretching

and aerobic exercise is essential to counteract the

tendency for deconditioning that leads to progressive

dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients. Prior to

stretching, muscles should be warmed either actively

by gentle exercise or passively by a heating pad, warm

bath or hot tub. Stretching will aid in the release of

the often tightened muscle bands and when properly

performed will provide pain relief. The amount of the

stretch is important. Stretching to point of

resistance and then holding the stretch will allow the

Golgi tendon apparatus to signal the muscle fibers to

relax. Stretching to the point of increased pain will

precipitate a contraction of additional fibers and

have a deleterious effect. The stretch should be

gentle and sustained for 60 seconds. Often patients

must work up to this amount of time and start with

10-15 seconds on and then 10-15 seconds off. There is

good evidence that fibromyalgia patients benefit from

increased aerobic conditioning, but many are reluctant

to exercise on account of increased pain and fatigue.

However, most patients, can be motivated to increase

their level of fitness if they are provided realistic

guidelines for exercise and have regular follow-up.

Exercise prescription should emphasize non-impact

loading exercise such as use of walking, stationary

exercycles and water-therapy. The eventual aim is to

exercise 3 to 4 times a week at 60 to 70% of the

maximal heart rate for 20 to 30 minutes. Most

fibromyalgia patients cannot start out at this level

but need to establish a regular pattern of exercise. I

have found that an acceptable initiation for most

patients is to start with two or three daily exercise

sessions of only 3-5 minutes each. The duration should

then be increased until they are doing three 10 minute

sessions, then two 15 minute sessions and finally one

20 to 30 minute session performed 3 times per week.

Sleep. All fibromyalgia patients complain of

fragmented non-refreshing sleep. A treatable cause for

the sleep disturbance should always be sought. For

instance, a small number of patients have sleep apnea

and benefit from continuous positive airway pressure

therapy. Other patients have nocturnal myoclonus

associated with a restless leg syndrome and may often

be helped by the prescription of clonazepam

(Klonopin), 0.1 mg at bedtime or carbidopa-levodopa

(Sinemet), 10/100 at bedtime. In the majority of

patients, the sleep disturbance seems to be rooted in

psychological distress or due to pain itself. For

instance, a regional myofascial pain syndrome

consequent to a whiplash injury may cause a persistent

sleep disruption, which eventually leads to the

appearance of widespread musculoskeletal pain

consistent with the fibromyalgia syndrome; this

transition from regional pain to widespread pain

typically occurs over a period of 6 to 18 months. In

some patients, trochanteric bursitis or subacromial

bursitis/tendinitis causes a sleep disruption every

time the patient turns over onto that side, and

appropriate treatment of the bursitis (see previous

section) may lead to a more restorative sleep pattern.

In many fibromyalgia patients, the sleep disturbance

may be helped by the judicious prescription of a

low-dose tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). The doses

required to promote restorative sleep in fibromyalgia

are not in the range required to treat depression.

Currently there seems to be no logical way of knowing

which TCA to prescribe. The ideal medication would

produce restorative sleep with a feeling of being

refreshed on awakening with no side effects. In

reality, some patients are excessively sensitive to

TCAs and have a severe sense of " morning hangover " ;

this may be helped by switching from one of the more

sedative agents to a more stimulant TCA. Other

patients find TCAs unacceptable owing to

anticholinergic side effects, such as tachycardia, dry

mouth, and constipation. Most TCAs cause some weight

gain, but in certain patients this may amount to 20%

of their initial body weight and is thus unacceptable.

The author often initiates TCA therapy with a trial of

four medications taken for 6 days each with a 1-day

washout between. Patients can be advised to start

medication on a Friday evening to minimize the

inconvenience of a possible hangover the next morning.

If the patient has not taken a TCA before, the

following drugs and dosages can typically be used:

amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), 10 mg at bedtime;

doxepin (Sinequan, Adapin), 10 mg at bedtime;

nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventil), 10 mg at bedtime;

trazadone (Desyrel), 25 mg at bedtime and

cycobenzaprine (Flexeril) 10mg at bedtime –

cycobenzaprine has a TCA structure and is also a

muscle relaxant. Unless the patient has a concomitant

major depressive illness, the author does not

routinely advocate selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac),

because they may exacerbate insomnia and causes

agitation. When SSRIs are used in patients with

concomitant major depression, the author usually

prescribes a low-dose TCA, such as trazadone 50 mg at

bedtime. Some fibromyalgia patients are very

intolerant of TCAs due to a persistent daytime

hangover effect. In such cases the author uses

zolpidem (Ambien) 10mg at bedtime, with instructions

not to use it more than 3 times a week. Psyche.

Patients with chronic pain often develop secondary

psychological disturbances, such as depression, anger,

fear, withdrawal and anxiety. Sometimes these

secondary reactions become the " major problem " ,

however it is a common mistake to attribute all of the

patients symptomatolgy to an aberrant psyche. The

prompt diagnosis and treatment of these secondary

features is essential to effective overall management

of fibromyalgia patients. Some patients develop a

reduced functional ability and have difficulty being

competitively employed. In such cases the treating

physician needs to act as an advocate in sanctioning a

reduced or modified load at work and at home. The

overall philosophy of treating fibromyalgia patients,

however, is to provide them with realistic

expectations of what can be done to help and

de-emphasize the role of medications. Frequent visits

to physical therapists, masseurs, and chiropractors or

a dependence on repeated myofascial trigger point

injections should be discouraged. Unless the patient

has an obvious psychiatric illness, referral to

psychiatrists is usually non-productive. Psychological

counseling, particularly the use of techniques such as

cognitive restructuring and biofeedback, may benefit

some patients who are having difficulties coping with

the realities of living with their pain and associated

problems. [Non-text portions of this message have

been removed]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 years later...

Shift Work May Put Teens at Risk for Multiple Sclerosis

Disruption of normal sleep cycle at young age could be partly to blame, Swedish researchers say.

By Dallas, HealthDay News

12

Share

2

Twitter

Comments (0)

RELATED ARTICLES

How Does Diet Affect Your Multiple Sclerosis Risk ?

Can You Prevent Multiple Sclerosis ?

Shift Work Sleep Disorder - References

DRUGS

Provigil

Norcuron

Oncovin

PHARMACIST Q & A

Is Cough A Side Effect Of Metformin Or Provigil?

Is It Common For Tysabri To Cause Headaches?

Could Copaxone Cause A Cyst On The Liver?

COMMUNITY

Multiple Sclerosis Blogs Multiple Sclerosis Groups

SYMPTOM CHECKER

Tell Dr. Schueler your symptoms to find out possible causes and treatments. Get Started

MONDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) — Working overnight or odd shifts may increase teenagers' risk of developing multiple sclerosis, according to the results of an observational study.

Researchers from Sweden who uncovered the link said interruption of circadian rhythms and disruption of normal sleep patterns may be partially responsible for the added risk.

In conducting the study, published in the Oct. 18 issue of ls of Neurology, researchers examined two population-based studies of Swedish residents aged 16 to 70 (one with incident cases and one with prevalent cases) to compare the number of cases of multiple sclerosis among those who did and did notwork overnight or shift hours on a regular or alternating basis during their teens.

Among the incident cases, the investigators found those who worked overnight hours for three years or more before the age of 20 were twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as those who never worked night shifts. Among the prevalent cases, they noted, the teens who worked overnight hours were slightly more than twice as likely to develop the disorder commonly called MS.

"Our analysis revealed a significant association between working shift at a young age and occurrence of MS," Dr. Karin Hedstrom, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said in a journal news release. "Given the association was observed in two independent studies strongly supports a true relationship between shift work and disease risk."

The researchers explained the sleep restriction associated with working the night shift has already been shown to increase the risk for certain health problems, including heart disease, thyroid disorders and cancer, likely by interfering with melatonin secretion and increasing inflammatory responses.

The authors pointed out that since MS is a central nervous system autoimmune inflammatory disorder that is linked to a person's environment, other lifestyle risk factors, such as sleep loss due to shift work, should also be considered.

The study authors noted that more research is needed to explain why the disruption of circadian rhythm and sleep loss increase teenagers' risk for developing MS.

Last Updated: 10/17/2011

  ~*~Hugs~*~

~*~Akiba~*~

Pragmatic Visionary

http://www.affiliates-natural-salt-lamps.com/pages/156.php

-- Interesting article

http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/1017/shift-work-may-put-teens-at-risk-for-multiple-sclerosis.aspx?xid=aol_eh-ms_4_200111017 & aolcat=AJA & icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl14|sec3_lnk3|104997

  ~*~Hugs~*~

~*~Akiba~*~

Pragmatic Visionary

http://www.affiliates-natural-salt-lamps.com/pages/156.php

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow. How odd, huh? Thanks for sending it to me, Akiba. Interesting!!hugs SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects. To: MSersLife Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 7:39 PMSubject: Re: Interesting article

Shift Work May Put Teens at Risk for Multiple Sclerosis

Disruption of normal sleep cycle at young age could be partly to blame, Swedish researchers say.

By Dallas, HealthDay News

12

Share

2

Twitter

Comments (0)

RELATED ARTICLES

How Does Diet Affect Your Multiple Sclerosis Risk ?

Can You Prevent Multiple Sclerosis ?

Shift Work Sleep Disorder - References

DRUGS

Provigil

Norcuron

Oncovin

PHARMACIST Q & A

Is Cough A Side Effect Of Metformin Or Provigil?

Is It Common For Tysabri To Cause Headaches?

Could Copaxone Cause A Cyst On The Liver?

COMMUNITY

Multiple Sclerosis Blogs Multiple Sclerosis Groups

SYMPTOM CHECKER

Tell Dr. Schueler your symptoms to find out possible causes and treatments. Get Started

MONDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) — Working overnight or odd shifts may increase teenagers' risk of developing multiple sclerosis, according to the results of an observational study.

Researchers from Sweden who uncovered the link said interruption of circadian rhythms and disruption of normal sleep patterns may be partially responsible for the added risk.

In conducting the study, published in the Oct. 18 issue of ls of Neurology, researchers examined two population-based studies of Swedish residents aged 16 to 70 (one with incident cases and one with prevalent cases) to compare the number of cases of multiple sclerosis among those who did and did notwork overnight or shift hours on a regular or alternating basis during their teens.

Among the incident cases, the investigators found those who worked overnight hours for three years or more before the age of 20 were twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as those who never worked night shifts. Among the prevalent cases, they noted, the teens who worked overnight hours were slightly more than twice as likely to develop the disorder commonly called MS.

"Our analysis revealed a significant association between working shift at a young age and occurrence of MS," Dr. Karin Hedstrom, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said in a journal news release. "Given the association was observed in two independent studies strongly supports a true relationship between shift work and disease risk."

The researchers explained the sleep restriction associated with working the night shift has already been shown to increase the risk for certain health problems, including heart disease, thyroid disorders and cancer, likely by interfering with melatonin secretion and increasing inflammatory responses.

The authors pointed out that since MS is a central nervous system autoimmune inflammatory disorder that is linked to a person's environment, other lifestyle risk factors, such as sleep loss due to shift work, should also be considered.

The study authors noted that more research is needed to explain why the disruption of circadian rhythm and sleep loss increase teenagers' risk for developing MS.

Last Updated: 10/17/2011

  ~*~Hugs~*~

~*~Akiba~*~

Pragmatic Visionary

http://www.affiliates-natural-salt-lamps.com/pages/156.php

-- Interesting article

http://www.everydayhealth.com/multiple-sclerosis/1017/shift-work-may-put-teens-at-risk-for-multiple-sclerosis.aspx?xid=aol_eh-ms_4_200111017 & aolcat=AJA & icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl14|sec3_lnk3|104997

  ~*~Hugs~*~

~*~Akiba~*~

Pragmatic Visionary

http://www.affiliates-natural-salt-lamps.com/pages/156.php

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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